There is a common technology complaint among many higher education institutions: Fragmented systems create inefficiencies, disconnected experiences, and data silos. But institutions’ tech stacks weren’t designed this way; they evolved over time, and their rips have grown each year. How did we get where we are today? And how do we find an organized way forward?
Hanging by a Thread
While the 2020 pandemic certainly exacerbated the problem, tech stacks in higher education have been tearing for some time. This is because the latest and greatest tools always promise to transform and improve experiences. So, when adopting and using new technologies became customary in everyday personal lives, many considered the same should be the case for professional environments. Teams often sought out and implemented new solutions on their own or embraced ad hoc adoption initiatives.
With internal IT teams already strained, disruption was inevitable. Multiple systems, often with limited integration, were used across campus. Duplicate data was manually entered into different applications, leading to delays or inconsistencies caused by human error. IT teams were pressured to find ways to make it work.
Technology complexity became the norm, not the exception, and institutions felt the weight. Students were unhappy with non-uniform experiences. Staff were disgruntled with manual operations. Institutions struggled.
One Rip Too Many
While pinpointing the exact time of transition is impossible, it’s safe to say there was a tonal shift within higher education when institutions had a moment of clarity and said, “enough is enough.” Student expectations for seamless digital experiences were (and still are) on the rise, and institutions needed a better way to gather, manage, and analyze information to make faster, more accurate decisions.
Now, institutions are facing even tighter budgets, staff capacity is reaching a limit, talent is being picked off by other industries, and there are more aggressive requirements regarding data security, compliance, and accessibility. Legacy, loosely woven-together technology stacks simply can’t keep pace.
The Stitching Point
For institutions to move forward, they must adopt a new state of mind. Leadership needs to abandon the idea of using isolated, single-purpose tools and facilitate a collaborative culture that embraces a holistic, integrated ecosystem of technologies.
An integrated technology platform makes it easier for staff and departments to share data and resources, leading to more consistent user experiences (for both students and staff) and more accurate information to guide decision-making. It also means better governance and simplified technology management for IT departments.
Are there challenges to look out for when adopting this new approach? Of course. But there are also ways to mitigate risk.
On the Lookout for Rips
Like all new technology adoption plans, there are common concerns to look for.
“We can’t replace everything at once.”
Institutions do not need to rip and replace their entire tech stack in one fell swoop. Instead, leadership should aim for a phased approach to modernization, rolling out new technologies that share a roadmap to an integrated ecosystem. This gives time to find any hiccups along the way.
“Change is disruptive.”
Successful change is often the result of a top-down strategy. If leadership establishes and nurtures a new culture of technology change, the transition will be more seamless. Additionally, institutions can implement change management and training programs to ensure staff, students, and all other constituents know how to successfully use new tools.
“What about budget constraints?”
Budget is always a concern, but it’s arguably more important today for institutional business offices to look at long-term returns on investment over short-term savings. With an integrated platform of connected systems, institutions will be able to make better use of their data, streamline operations, deliver better experiences, identify and attract right-fit students more effectively, and more—all of which have a financial impact.
Make It Sew
A platform-based approach to technology can help institutions become more efficient and agile as higher education becomes more competitive. While the transition from disparate systems to consolidated technology ecosystem can be disruptive, it will ultimately aid the institution in the long run; patchwork tech stacks simply limit potential.
One of the best ways to ensure a smooth, seamless transition to an integrated technology platform is to work with a proven partner. An experienced partner can help institutions tackle more than just a technology pivot; they can support the adoption of a new strategy that will best position the institution for the future.
